Depuis vs Pendant in French What’s the difference?
French learners often hesitate between depuis and pendant, because both can translate as for in English. But in French, they do not express time in the same way. The key question is simple: is the action still continuing now, or is the duration complete?
Use depuis for an action or situation that started in the past and is still true now. Use pendant for the total duration of an action, often a completed action.
In English, you often use the present perfect with for or since. In French, you often use the present tense with depuis.
Quick contrast
1. Use depuis for something that started in the past and continues now
Depuis connects the past to the present. It tells us when something started or how long it has been happening, and it usually means that the situation is still true now.
In English, you often say “I have lived here for two years.” In French, you usually say: J’habite ici depuis deux ans. The French sentence uses the present tense because the situation is still true now.
| French structure | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| depuis + date | since a point in time | depuis 2020 |
| depuis + duration | for a length of time | depuis trois mois |
| depuis que + sentence | since something happened | depuis que je suis arrivé |
2. Use pendant for a complete duration
Pendant focuses on the total duration of an action or situation. It answers the question: “for how long?” It often describes a completed period, but it can also describe a planned or limited duration.
Do not use pendant when you mean that the situation started in the past and is still true now.
Say: J’étudie le français depuis deux ans. Not: J’étudie le français pendant deux ans, if you still study French now.
3. Depuis or pendant with “for” in English?
This is the biggest difficulty for English speakers: the word for can translate as either depuis or pendant. You cannot translate word by word. You need to look at the meaning.
| English idea | French word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| for + ongoing situation | depuis | I have lived here for two years. → J’habite ici depuis deux ans. |
| for + completed duration | pendant | I lived here for two years. → J’ai habité ici pendant deux ans. |
| since + date or event | depuis | I have worked here since 2020. → Je travaille ici depuis 2020. |
| during + period | pendant | during the holidays → pendant les vacances |
Ask yourself: Is it still true now?
If yes, use depuis. If no, and you are talking about the total duration of a finished action, use pendant.
4. The tense difference: French present, English present perfect
One of the most important differences between French and English is the tense used with ongoing situations.
In English, you say: I have been learning French for one year.
In French, you say: J’apprends le français depuis un an.
This structure is very common in French. If the action started in the past and continues now, the French present tense is usually natural.
5. Depuis que and pendant que
Both depuis and pendant can be followed by que, but the meaning changes.
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| depuis que | since something happened | Depuis que je travaille ici, je parle plus français. |
| pendant que | while something is happening | Pendant que tu cuisines, je prépare la table. |
6. Mini practice: choose depuis or pendant
Complete each sentence with depuis or pendant.
- J’apprends le français ______ deux ans.
- J’ai étudié ______ trois heures hier soir.
- Elle travaille dans cette entreprise ______ 2020.
- Nous avons habité à Marseille ______ six mois.
- Il attend le bus ______ vingt minutes.
- Ils vont voyager en France ______ deux semaines.
See the answers
- J’apprends le français depuis deux ans. The learning is still continuing now.
- J’ai étudié pendant trois heures hier soir. The duration is complete.
- Elle travaille dans cette entreprise depuis 2020. She still works there.
- Nous avons habité à Marseille pendant six mois. The period is complete.
- Il attend le bus depuis vingt minutes. He is still waiting now.
- Ils vont voyager en France pendant deux semaines. This is the total planned duration.
Final recap
Use depuis when a situation started in the past and continues now: J’habite ici depuis deux ans. Use pendant when you talk about the total duration of an action or period: J’ai habité ici pendant deux ans.
The easiest way to choose is to ask: Is it still true now? If yes, use depuis. If the period is complete or you simply describe the total length of an action, use pendant.
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